5 players who shockingly announced their early retirement from international football

3) Johan Cruyff

Cruyff retired from the national team before the 1978 World Cup

The greatest Dutch footballer of all-time, Johan Cruyff played some dazzling football during his playing days as he epitomized the concept of Total Football proposed by the then Netherlands coach Rinus Michels. Cruyff brought Netherlands back on the map in World Football as they qualified for the 1974 World Cup, their first since 1938.

Cruyff led his team to the final of the 1974 World Cup where he won the penalty that gave the Netherlands the lead in an eventual 2-1 defeat to hosts West Germany. Cruyff scored three goals and was awarded the Golden Ball for his performances.

After leading Netherlands to third place at Euro 1976 and helping them qualify for the 1978 World Cup, Cruyff retired from the national team in 1977, aged only 30, stating later that the subjection of himself and his family to a kidnap attempt in Barcelona led him to retire from international football.